Game of Thrones: From a deserter to a high-ranking official

Chapter 31 Cultural Offensive

"Tiberius, what's going on in your head?" Lisanlo sprayed some perfume on his robe, then looked at Tiberius with considerable admiration. "Could you give me a spoiler? Please! I really want to hear what happens next."

"Want more of the story? Okay, give me some votes... I mean, Risangro," Tippi said with a slight smile.

"Lisang Luo, I haven't actually come up with a story yet. After all, a good story always needs polishing. I hope this story will become a legend for Ries in the future."

"But one thing, Tiberius, your story..." He paused, his expression strange, "to be honest... it seems... quite different from what my father, whom I've known since childhood, and from how he told me about it?"

He recalled his father's shrewd eyes as he weighed the pros and cons, and the occasional impatience and indifference he showed towards those who stood in his way.

It's really hard for Lisanro to reconcile this with the image of the governor in the story, who is full of moral struggles and shines with the brilliance of humanity.

Tiberius showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, he blinked his unusually "innocent" eyes, as if Lisanro were talking about something trivial.

"Ahem," he said, lowering his voice as well, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather, "Lisangluo, whether the story is true or false is unimportant." He patted Lisangluo on the shoulder, giving him a "you're too naive" look. "Whether the story is beneficial to us is what matters!"

"And," Tippi leaned closer, his voice almost inaudible, laced with a slyness and an undeniable authority, "the one who will stand on the stage and tell this 'wonderful story' to even more people will be you, not me. Even in public, the one who fabricates these stories will be you, not me."

Risang Luo's eyes widened suddenly, his mouth opened, and his face instantly showed an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Hey, Tiberius, although I can write poetry and prose, and quite well at that, I can't write such a dramatic story. Besides, this is your creation..."

Tiberius looked at Risangro's "respect for culture" and "protection of his friend's reputation" act and sighed helplessly. He reached out and pressed down on Risangro: "Ahem, listen, Risangro." His tone became more serious, and his gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Risangro.

"I'm asking you, do I know how to read?"

"I can't read." Lisangluo nodded. "You can only write your own name."

"So do you think a semi-literate mercenary would write such a... well, dramatic story? In other words, if it wasn't me who wrote it, but another mercenary, do you think that makes sense?"

"Does not meet the requirements."

"That's more like it," Tiberius said, shrugging. "If I said I wrote it, would anyone believe me? Wouldn't those who are jealous of your father, or those who dislike us, take the opportunity to attack the story as fabricated and question the White Army's contribution? If that happens, I'll have to face the doubts of others!"

"Besides, I'm a mercenary! I'm going to fight the Valantis with real swords and spears. I don't have time to waste on those pretentious scholars, pedantic poets, and novelists who engage in endless verbal battles."

"And," Tiberius said firmly, with a certainty beyond his years, "making you an author will only benefit you and the Rogal family, not harm you. Just think, as these stories spread, the citizens will adore him even more, and those wavering members of the council will respect him even more! What a boost that will be to your father's reputation!" He paused, then added.

"Also, this is for my own good. My relationship with Governor Gasto Ferrero isn't exactly good right now! If he finds out I'm the one spreading these stories, hehe, he won't be so polite! He might try to do something else to suppress me. It's better to let you do it. He can't just launch an 'offensive' against the Rogal family, can he?"

"Alright, you have a point... Well then, I'll be going now, the air here isn't very circulating..." He looked at the storyteller and bard outside the tent with some disgust, then said to Tiberius, "In a few days I'm going hunting at a manor in the countryside. I recently discovered a new deep pool there! It's almost early autumn, and the weather is very dry now. That's when the animals come to drink near the water source! You taught me that! Ha! Maybe we can catch a lynx, or even a leopard! I'll skin it and make myself a robe!"

"You're overthinking it! Those lynxes and leopards were all bought by your servants at the predator market and released onto the manor." Tiberius added in his mind. "Only you spoiled brats would think that a wealthy, densely populated island like Reese would have medium to large carnivores like leopards and lynxes..."

He walked up to the boy, his tone carrying a hint of admiration he himself might not have realized. "Alright, I'll go back now and prepare how to write it! I also want to write a passage for my noble friends, so they can hear it too!"

Then, he looked at Tiberius with considerable admiration. "Tiberius, you know a lot, and you're quite bold. If it were me, I couldn't stand dealing with these people." As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at the storytellers outside the tents, who were gleefully counting their copper and silver coins, and his nose twitched slightly. "They stink! Don't they bathe?"

Tiberius wanted to remind Lisanro that their house didn't have a bathroom, nor did it have hot water and soap available at all times.

But after thinking about it, there was no need to say it. After all, how could the young master possibly understand the difficulties of the poor?

"Well... I'll head back now. This place..." Risang Luo paused, but ultimately couldn't help but say tactfully, "The air isn't very circulating."

Vito watched Lisanro's departing figure, then walked to Tiberius's side and whispered, "Tsk, what a pampered brat! Like a woman, even preparing sachets and perfume? But at least he didn't put on airs..."

Tiberius looked at him and smiled, saying:

"He's willing to come and 'take a look.' That's enough."

Vito raised an eyebrow at Tiberius's "innocent" expression.

"Tsk, you little rascal, you've got a new trick up your sleeve, haven't you?"

"Of course not, Vito. Am I a bad kid?"

"I don't know if she's bad or not, but I do know that Zera. Now, if you tell her to go east, she won't go west; if she goes south, she won't go north... When it comes to manipulating people's minds, you're better than anyone else."

"Get lost! I won that girl over with my personal charm!"